Like most Americans, small business workers want less stress and better work-life balance

Benefits offered by small firms contribute greatly to the financial, physical and emotional wellbeing of America. Guardian’s latest Workforce Well-being Index reveals that employees of small firms have an Index score of 6.5 on a 10-point scale, virtually the same as the 6.6 average for all working Americans. However, the financial wellness component of the Index is low among small business workers and is lower when compared to employees of large companies.

% Rated excellent/very good health by small business workers

Money is the primary stressor for small business workers. Six in ten cite personal finances as the top source of stress in their life. That is nearly twice as many as those citing job-related concerns and three times as many as those mentioning personal health issues, housing costs or the economy.

The well-being of 60...

This is the usual reaction I find when a small business of twenty employees or less is approached about employee health, dental or vision benefits.

Many believe it’s too expensive. Well, it may be. But too expensive for who? The employer? I think not. The employee, maybe, but let the employee decide that for themselves. Offering benefits can only enhance an employer’s image to recruits regardless of the expense to either side.

Employee benefits, in the last five years, have become much less stringent on the rules regarding what an employer must contribute, how much paperwork an employer must complete and who can enroll, save for the ACA guideline regarding husband and wife groups but we’ll get to that later.

In today’s benefit marketplace many carriers have relaxed the regulations regarding employer contributions to be so minimal it allows for any employer to at least make a benefit offering. For example, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield,...

HIPAA Compliance and HR: 6 Things You Need to Know

If your small business deals with sensitive patient/client information, then you're going to want your HR staff to be well versed in HIPAA laws and regulations. Here are 6 things you need to know about HIPPA compliance and your HR team.

Keyword(s): hipaa compliance

In your role, you have access to plenty of sensitive information. Your colleagues are trusting you to keep it safe. But what does the law say about privacy rights?

One of the most highly protected types of information is health-related data. Some HR records only contain scattered pieces of health information in employees' employment records, like sick notes and workers' compensation claims. Others small businesses that use a self-insured method to pay for employees' medical expenses have much more information.

How much of this information is protected by HIPAA, Health Insurance Portability and Accountability? The information below will help you abide by HIPAA...

HR Branches provides general information about Human Resources. Please note that the information provided, while reliable, is not legal advice. Please seek legal assistance, or assistance from State, Federal, or International governmental resources, to make certain your legal interpretation and decisions are correct for your location and circumstances. The purpose of this information is for guidance, ideas, and assistance on general HR matters.